Since I’ve been gluten-free for a while and expect people to accommodate my needs (to some extent at least), I have gotten better about asking others about their dietary needs as well. When I was asked to bring a gluten-free dessert for myself and one other person at a social event I made sure to reach out to see if that individual had any other restrictions. It’s a good thing that I did because I found out he’s gluten-free (Celiac), egg-free and dairy-free. There went my idea for an ice cream pie in a gluten-free crust. I had to go back to the drawing board.

Honestly, what did people do before the Internet? Did they have to scour the library for a cookbook with a recipe they could use? Luckily I don’t have to do that and I found a great, simple, easy and fairly healthy dessert to bring just by looking online. I followed the recipe below and used a MI-DEL gluten-free chocolate cookie pie crust from my local grocery store. The original recipe didn’t call for sugar but I thought it was a bit bitter without it. Click to continue reading »

Does anyone else feel like they hit the gluten-free jackpot when Passover comes around? This is the time of year that even neighborhood grocery stores have all sorts of extra gluten-free items.

Passover is a Jewish holiday that lasts eight days and is celebrated in the early spring. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Rules of Kosher eating are further restricted during this holiday and eliminate leavened bread, wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats. Depending on ancestry and beliefs restrictions may also include rice, corn, lentils, beans and peanuts. (It’s important to note that certain items may still contain Kosher for Passover wheat products so still read labels carefully and look for gluten-free labels. Click to continue reading »

Easter is here and that means a lot of candy and a lot of parents of gluten-free children reading ingredient labels. Check out this 2015 Allergy-Friendly Easter Candy List from KidswithFoodAllergies.org. When in doubt, read the labels and call the manufacturer.

You can also check out a site like SurfSweets.com. Candy on this site is lacks corn syrup, gluten, artificial colors and flavors, but uses organic ingredients. Much of the candy here is vegan or vegetarian. All are produced and packaged in a facility free of the top ten allergens. Click to continue reading »

Have you ever heard of a pupusa? Have you ever tried one? If you never have or if you’re already a big fan, you’re in luck because now you can buy them in the grocery section of your local store.

A pupusa is a stuffed corn tortilla that originated in El Salvador. Pupusas are traditionally served with a side of curtido, a vinegary coleslaw. The recipe to make this can be found on the side of the pupusa box.

Tres Latin Foods was born in 2008 in a stand at the Boulder County Farmer’s Market in Colorado. Their pupusas first hit grocery store shelves in 2010, and they now can be found in the freezer section of hundreds of Whole Foods Market locations, and other grocery stores across the country (complete list of retailers can be found here). Click to continue reading »

You may have seen the previous post about Sweet Christine’s Bakery sweet treats like muffins, lava cake and cookies. This post is to talk about their more savory options.

There are brands of gluten-free bread, bagels and buns that we all end up buying because they are easy to find and good to have on hand. Some are better than others but none of them really hit the spot when you are after a soft bun for a BBQ beef sandwich or a Sloppy Joe, something you can fill up with meat then squish down to absorb the sauce. I want to be able to squish without forcing out the entire inner layer! Sweet Christine’s buns and bagels work. The texture is softer than what I usually buy and the flavor is slightly sweet, like an egg bread or challah. They work great for a favorite breakfast or dinner sandwiches. Click to continue reading »

So many people are going Paleo or eating clean these days. That’s great because it means more people who can share in the quest for good gluten-free food. I’m well practiced after all these years at creating and ordering gluten-free meals but snack time still gives me problems. It’s hard to find a high protein, low carb, low sugar, gluten-free snack.

One of my Paleo friends turned me on to Nick’s Sticks. These are small, shelf stable snack sticks made from grass-fed beef or free-range turkey raised small family farms in the Midwest. They are seasoned with organic Redmond spices and do not have a casing. The sticks are free of red dye, MSG, nitrates, antibiotics, hormones, sugar and gluten. Click to continue reading »